Process for handling and treating articles in groups



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Aug. 18, 1970 I N o q o Mm n n n I \Q 7 Original Filed Oct. 22, 1965HTTORA/f/ Int. Cl. B6511 21/06, 35/32 US. CI. 53-14 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A method for handling groups of articles so that a workfunction may be performed simultaneously upon each article in the group.A plurality of articles in bulk form are fed to a station where a groupof the articles are arranged in a predetermined pattern and thereaftertransferred into a matrix. The group of articles in the matix are movedinto position Within a working station in which the group of articlesare worked on substantially simultaneously so that more time may beallowed to work on each article. The overall production rate may thus beincreased as compared to working only on a single article at a time.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No.501,630, filed Oct. 22, 1965, now US. Pat. 3,431,702.

The present invention relates generally to the handling and treatment ofarticles in groups, and more particularly to a process for arranging thearticles in groups, each in a predetermined pattern, and for treatingthem while they are retained in the group pattern.

When it is desired to handle a large number of articles, the usualprocedure of obtaining high production rates is to sub-divide thenecessary operations into sub-operations, or partial work operations,and then employ progressive tooling. This requires that a simple step bedone upon the article in a very short period of time. Thus, the highspeed requirements of such a process generally require somewhatsophisticated machinery due to the high through-put rate necessary, eventhough each step is relatively simple.

If, on the other hand, a number of articles are worked uponsubstantially simultaneously by a group of identical tools performing asingle operation, the rate of time to perform the work upon each articleis significantly below that required if only a single article is workedupon at a time. This simultaneous multiple operation is a matrix systemwhich has a broad front, or parallel path scheme of operation whichperforms high through-put rates, while operations and componentsfunction at a relatively slow rate. Thus, the limit to production rateimposed by tool operating speeds is not a critical limitation in theoverall production rate of articles during a fixed period of time.

In addition, if it is desired to avoid tool interactions, such tools maynot necessarily be operated simultaneously. 'Ihus, alternate articlesmay be worked upon in the first operation and then the remainder of thearticles worked upon in one or more subsequent operations.

It is thus apparent that such a matrix system will permit massiveproduction using the combination of many channels of productionoperating at conventional tool speeds by combining the productionchannels into a single matrix path.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a systemwherein a group of articles is loaded into a matrix which retains themin a predetermined ar- United States Patent 3,524,295 Patented Aug. 18,1970 rangement or pattern for subsequent treatment, in one or moreoperations, as a unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of steps for handlingand treating articles of different forms, each form being retained inthe same pattern as the other within their respective matrices until thearticles of one form are assembled with those of the other.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of steps fororienting and spacing the articles into the desired pattern preliminaryto loading them into their matrices.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of steps forsubstantially simultaneously treating and/or assembling articles, suchas containers in patterned groups.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description which, together with the drawings, discloses apreferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a portion of a schematic representation of means and theirarrangement for effecting the first and some of the later steps of theprocess to be described below;

FIG. 2 is a continuation, and shows the remainder of the schematicrepresentation illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse elevational section taken at 3- 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a repetition of a part of FIG. 3 with parts, shown at theright of the figure, in different positions;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are longitudinal elevational sections taken at 55 inFIG. 1, each showing parts in different positions;

FIG. 8 is a transverse elevational section taken at 88 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a transverse elevational section taken at 9-9 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal elevational section taken at 10-10 in FIG. 2.

A preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention isillustrated in the drawings which show a matrix system including anorienting and loading station A wherein containers are received,oriented and spaced in a desired pattern and placed within a reusablematrix which retains them in that pattern; a chamber B wherein theatmosphere is retained at other than normal conditions, such as sterileair or steam at a pressure higher than normal atmospheric pressure; afiller station C within the chamber B for filling the containers fed toit in successive matrices; a capper station D within the chamber B; acap feed-in station E wherein caps, on matrices which retain them in thedesired pattern, are fed into the capper station D for assembly thereinwith the filled containers; a cap matrix removal station F; a label andapplying station G; a container transfer station H whereat the cappedand labeled containers are transferred from their matrices and loaded,in the same pattern, into open cartons; and a carton sealing station J,where the filled cartons are closed and sealed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, containers 20 are fed into theorienting and loading station A on a belt conveyor 21. Side guides 22direct laterally disposed cans inwardly and together with a plurality ofspacer guides 23, orient the containers into the desired number oflanes, four as shown, as the containers are advanced on the conveyor upto a stationary platform 24, and as they are further advanced over theplatform 24 by pressure applied to them by containers behind them on themoving conveyor. Thus, the surface of the platform 24 should have a lowcoeflicient of friction to facilitate sliding of the containers 20.

The first, or leading row of four containers, is stopped by a gate 26(FIGS. 1 and 5) suspended from the arma- 3 ture of a hydraulic device 27mounted on a housing 28 and a pair of guide rods 29 slidably mounted inthe housmg.

As soon as progress of the containers is thus stopped by gates 26, avertically disposed fork-shaped barrier 35, vertically reciprocable by ahydraulic device 36 mounted on the frame 28, is lowered by the deviceuntil the tines or fingers 37 of the barrier 35 penetrate intersticesbetween four containers in each of two container rows a predetermineddistance behind the leading row to out ed, in this instance, the fourmost advanced rows from the remainder of the procession of containers onthe platform 24.

At this time the containers in the separated four advanced rows arealready spaced apart laterally the desired distance by the spacer guides23, but the containers in each lane are in close abutmentlongitudinally, To separate these abutting containers longitudinally bythe desired spacing in the ultimate pattern, a plurality of parallel andhorizontally disposed spacer bars 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are provided.

These bars extend transversely from a cross member 46, mounted forreciprocation by a hydraulic device 48 between a retracted position,shown at the left in FIGS. 1 and 3, and an advanced position, shown inFIG. 4. The leading end of each of these spacer bars is wedge shaped, asshown in FIG. 1, and the bars are progressively shorter from rearmost toforemost bar for purposes explained below.

After the gate 26 is raised by the hydraulic device 27, the spacer barsare moved transversely. Each of the bars 41, 42 and 43 has the apex 51of its wedge-shaped end at the rearward side of the bar so that as bar41 moves in behind the rearmost row of the advanced group of containers,its wedge shaped end, cooperating with and meshing with alignedapertures guides 23, causes the entire group to move forwardprogressively a distance equal to the width of the bar. Bar 42 followsbar 41 by about the diameter of one container to move the three forwardrows ahead by the width of bar 42; and bars 43 and 44 follows,successively, to advance the first two rows and then the first row.

The apex 51 of the end of bar 45 is at the forward side of the bar sothat its traverse of the forward end of this separated group ofcontainers assures alignment of all containers in the first or foremostrow of containers.

All of the containers in the separated group are now arranged in thedesired pattern and, as shown in FIG. 6, each has dropped a shortdistance into an aperture 56 in the platform 24 and onto a reciprocablymounted plate 57 that is formed with apertures 58 of substantially thesame size, and disposed in the same pattern and registrable withapertures 56. However, plate 57 is normally biased to its retractedposition (FIGS. and 6) when a solenoid 70 is deenergized. Apertures 58are thus normally out of register with apertures 56 and the containersrest temporarily on the plate 57. 7

Meanwhile, a matrix 65 carried by a matrix return conveyor 66 is movedfrom the conveyor 66 to a position immediately under the containersresting on the plate 57 by a hydraulically actuated pusher 67. Thematrix 65 is formed with pockets 68 of the same size and arranged in thesame pattern as the containers, and each pocket is aligned with acontainer above it, so that, when the plate 57 is moved forward by anenergized solenoid 70, as shown in FIG. 7, the containers drop fromplate 57, through apertures 58 and into the pockets 68.

Matrix 65 is provided with slotted lugs 69 extending laterallytherefrom, the slots being adapted to receive feed dogs 71 that arepivotally mounted on opposite sides of the matrix to a pair of dovetailslides 72.

Each dog 71 forms one arm of a bellcrank 73 whose other arm is a latch74 that extends laterally from the pivot. The bellcrank is spring biasedto the position shown in FIG. 8, with the dog 71 in vertical position.

A plurality of pairs of dogs 71 are mounted at appropriate intervalsalong the length of the reciprocable slides 72 for the purpose ofintermittently advancing each matrix 65 from its rearmost position, atloading station A, successively to filling station C, capper station D,label applying station G, and container transfer station H, ashereinafter more fully described.

The dovetail slides, interconnected by a crossbar 76 (FIG. 2) and guidedin ways 77, are reciprocated by any suitable means linked, as shown at78, to the crossbar 76. As the slides are retracted, the rearmost pairof dogs 71-yield outwardly as they ride over the leading sides of thelugs 69, and then snap into the lug slots. On the forward stroke ofslide 72, the dogs 71 carry the filled matrix 65 into the chamber B andto the filler station C therein.

While the containers are being filled, solenoids 81 are energized andtrip bars 82 are drawn downwardly to engage the latch arms 74 and rockthe dogs 71 out of engagement with lugs 69 of the matrix. On the returnstroke of slide 72, another pair of dogs 71 engages the lugs 69, and thenext forward stroke of the slide carries the matrix 65 and its filledcontainers to the capper station D.

Meanwhile, a cap matrix or magazine 85, loaded with caps 86, arrangedand retained in the same pattern as the containers in matrix 65, is fedfrom a table 87 through a gate 88 onto a conveyor 89. If desired, morethan one layer of caps may be placed in the matrix 85. Thus, theunloading of the matrix 85, as described hereinafter, may be altered inthat the matrix would not be removed from the capper station D until allthe caps have been removed therefrom. The gate 88 is biased to closedposition to prevent loss of pressurized wet sterile air, and raised onlyto admit a filled cap matrix.

Conveyor 89 carries the filled cap matrix 85 to a pre determinedposition laterally of matrix 65 at the capper station D (FIG. 8) bysuitable stop means and directly below a cap transfer head 91. The capson the matrix are thus in alignment with capper vacuum cups 92 secured,in the desired pattern, on the under side of a plate 93 that isyieldably mounted for vertical movement on the base of head 91, andbiased to its uppermost position against the head. While beingtransferred on the conveyor 89, the caps 86 are also being sterilized inthe pressurized wet sterile air or steam within the feed station E.

The plate 93 is lowered by energized solenoids 96, the armatures ofwhich are linked at 97 to the plate, and each cup 92 is pressed againstthe upper surface of a cap in the matrix.

A vacuum pump or the like, not shown, in communication with each cup 92through a tube 98 and a manifold 99, draws a partial vacuum in the cupsto hold the caps thereon. The solenoids 96 are then deenergized and theplate is raised to its biased position against the head, lifting thecaps to a level above, but laterally of the tops of the containers inmatrix 65.

The now empty cap matrix 85 is removed from the conveyor through a gate100, similar in operation and function to gate 88, by suitablereciprocating hinged claw means 103 or even by means of a manual hook.

The cap transfer head is mounted for transverse recip rocation alongrails 101 by a hydraulic ram 102 between a pick-up position over the capmatrix (FIG. 8) to a capping position over the filled container matrix65 (shown in dotted outline in FIG. 8). From their positions on vacuumcups 92 above their respective containers, the caps are lowered byenergized solenoids 96 and pressed into sealed engagement onto thegrouped filled containers by the cups 92 which thus also serve ascappers.

Solenoids 96 are then deenergized, plate 93 returns to its upper biasedposition, and head 91 is returned by ram 102 to its position over thenext filled cap matrix 85 for repetition of the cycle.

Matrix 65, now holding filled and capped containers, is advanced byanother pair of feed dogs 71 to label cutting and applying station G(FIGS. 1 and 9). At this station, a web of material 105, bearingpotential label areas, is fed intermittently a predetermined distanceacross a die 106 (FIG. 9) to position the potential label areas over agroup of die openings 107 disposed immediately below and in alignmentwith a cooperating group of punches 108 fixed to a punch plate 109 inthe desired pattern. Plate 109 is yieldably held against the base of alabel cutting and transfer head 111 constructed and operated insubstantially the same manner as the cap transfer head 91 describedabove.

It is readily apparent that since the containers 20 are sealed when theyenter the labeling station G, this station may be outside the sterilepressurized atmosphere chamber B used during filling and capping. Also,no pressurized atmosphere chamber B were used, the filled containerswould be heat processed using an ordinary cooker technique, well knownto those skilled in the art, after the capping operation.

In the station G, punches 108 are urged downwardly to cooperate with die106 in cutting the label areas from the web 105. A partial vacuum in abore 112 in each punch holds the labels 115 on the punches which arethen raised, and the transfer head 111 is moved by a hydraulic ram 116,along transverse rails 117, to a labeling position shown at the left inFIG. 9. Here, the plate 109 descends and the labels 115, which arecoated on their underside with pressure sensitive adhesive, are pressedagainst and adhere to the caps of the filled containers in the matrix65. The vacuum in bores 112 is then broken, the punches 108 raised, andthe head 111 is returned to its label cutting position for repetition ofthe cycle.

Matrix 65, with its labeled containers, is now advanced by other sets ofdogs 71 to container transfer station H (FIGS. 2 and under a containertransfer head 121, with each container cap in vertical alignment with avacuum cup 122 fixed to a plate 123 on the underside of head 121.

The parts of head 121 are similar in design and function to those oflike parts in heads 91 and 111. Vacuum cups 122 are lowered by solenoids124 to gripping engagement with the tops of the container caps, then thecups are raised to lift all containers clear of the matrix 65. The head121 and the suspended containers thereon, still arranged in the originalpattern, are drawn by a hydraulic ram 125 along a track 126 to a cartonloading position, shown in dotted outline in FIG. 10, over an opencarton 127 resting on a conveyor 128.

Plate 123 is then lowered to deposit the containers in the carton; thevacuum in cups 122 is broken, and the plate and head return forrepetition of their cycle.

The filled and open carton 127 is advanced by conveyor 128 to the cartonsealing station I (FIG. 2) where the carton is closed and sealed, andthen delivered to any suitable place of deposit by conveyor 128.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of parts and that changes may be made in steps of the methoddescribed and in their order of accomplishment without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the 1nvention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A method for simultaneously handling a plurality of substantiallyidentical articles at a speed slower than each of said articles would behandled individually but at a greater through-put rate per article,comprising the steps of:

feeding a plurality of articles in bulk form along a conveyor;

arranging a first group of said articles in a predetermined pattern inwhich the articles are spaced from one another;

transferring said first group of spaced articles into a reusable matrixwhile maintaining said predetermined pattern of said articles;

moving said matrix into position in a work station while maintainingsaid predetermined pattern of said articles;

holding said articles in said predetermined pattern in said workstation;

providing a supply of material adapted to define a second group ofpotential articles in a second matrix in which said second group ofarticles are part of said second matrix;

feeding said first and second groups of articles in their respectivematrixes to a transfer and assembling station;

cutting said second group of articles from said second matrix wherebythe cut articles are disposed in said second matrix in the samepredetermined pattern as said first group;

removing said second group of articles from said second matrix whileretaining said articles in said pattern and transferring them tojuxtaposition relative to the articles in said first group;

simultaneously assemblying each of the articles inone group with anarticle of the other group while retaining all articles in said pattern;

moving said first matrix and assembled articles from said work station;

and removing said worked upon articles from said first matrix so thatthe now empty first matrix may be reused.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the additional step ofrecycling said matrix for use with another group of articles which havebeen fed by said conveyor and arranged in said predetermined and spacedpattern.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of workstations, intermittently advancing said matrix along a straight linepath in passing through said plurality of work stations.

4. A method according to claim 1 including further advancing said matrixto a labeling station, and simultaneously applying labels to each ofsaid articles in said matrix while in said labeling station.

5. A method for simultaneously handling a plurality of substantiallyidentical articles at a speed slower than each of said articles would behandled individually but at greater through-put rate per article,comprising the steps of:

feeding a plurality of articles in bulk form along a longitudinalconveyor; dividing said articles into a plurality of separatelongitudinal lanes as they are fed by said conveyor;

separating a group of articles from saidbulk supply wherein said groupcomprises a plurality of adjacent lanes of contacting articles and aplurality of transverse rows of spaced articles; separating the articlein a first row of a first lane from the remaining articles in said firstlane;

subseqently separating the article in said first row of a second lanefrom the remaining articles in said second lane and simultaneouslyseparating the article in a second row of said first lane from theremaining articles in said first lane;

subsequently, simultaneously separating the article in said first row ofa third lane from the remaining articles in said third lane, the articlein said second row in said second lane from the remaining articles insaid second lane, and the article in a third row in said first lane fromthe remaining articles in said first lane;

progressively continuing the aforesaid separating pat tern until saidgroup of articles are disposed in a predetermined pattern in which saidarticles are all spaced from one another;

transferring said group of spaced articles into a reusable matrix whilemaintaining said predetermined pattern of said articles;

moving said matrix into position in a Work station while maintainingsaid predetermined pattern of said articles;

holding said articles in said predetermined pattern in said workstation;

performing an identical work function on each of said articlessubstantially simultaneously while in said work station;

moving said matrix and articles from said work station;

and removing said Worked upon articles from said matrix so that the nowempty matrix may be reused.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Currivan 53166 Tchimenoglov etal. 53282 X Carter 53166 X Darling 53329' Fullips 53299 Clinton 53123Palma 53281 X Duryee 53l84 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS,Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

